Members of India’s T20I squad have commenced their preparations for the five-match series against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Sunday. This venue is set to host the opening game on January
21.
The series marks India’s final T20 assignment before they begin their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 title defence from February 7.
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Key players including Captain Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Sanju Samson attended the optional practice session on Sunday.
Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya opted out of the optional training session and is expected to participate in the practice session scheduled under lights on Monday. According to a Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) official, “The members of India’s T20I team turned up for an optional practice session from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, which focused on their fitness and skill training.”
“They also have another practice session from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Monday, and it is possible that Hardik may attend this one. The rest of the India T20I team members currently playing the ODI in Indore are expected to arrive in Nagpur on Monday afternoon, along with the New Zealand team.”
Following the Nagpur game, the series will continue with matches on January 23 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, January 25 at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, January 28 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, and January 31 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
India recently included leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer in the squad to replace Washington Sundar (side strain) and Tilak Varma (lower abdomen surgery). Iyer will be available for the first three matches, with the anticipation that Varma will be fit for the last two games.
Currently, the two sides are engaged in a three-match ODI series, with the third game being played in Indore on Sunday.
With IANS Inputs
